Recalls
4campaigns
1 air bag · 1 power train · 1 brake
Source: NHTSA
Complaints
77filed
Owner reports, 1994–2003 shown
Source: NHTSA ODI
Fuel economy
23mpg combined
$2,840/yr at this week's prices
Source: EPA · EIA
Specs
2 L 4-cyl· 4-speed automatic
8 engine and transmission configurations
Source: NHTSA vPIC
Recalls (4)
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 1998 Toyota RAV4. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.
Check on NHTSA ↗Listed for 1998 Toyota RAV4. Not checked against your VIN.
Air Bag Inflators May Rupture or Underinflate Bag
Air bags · frontal · driver side · inflator module
Official NHTSA text
- Summary
- Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 1998-2000 RAV4, 1998-1999 RAV4 EV and Celica and 1997-1998 Supra vehicles. These vehicles were equipped with Non-Azide Driver air bag Inflators (NADI) and do not contain phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant. Due to a manufacturing issue, the NADI inflators may absorb moisture, causing the inflators to rupture or the air bag cushion to underinflate.
- Consequence
- In the event of a crash necessitating air bag deployment, an inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants. An underinflated air bag may not properly protect the occupant, and increases the risk of serious injury or death.
- Remedy
- Toyota will notify owners, and owners will have the option to self-inspect, or have a dealer inspect the steering wheel on their vehicle to determine if their vehicle may be equipped with an affected inflator. Potentially affected steering wheel serial numbers will be inspected by a dealer. Based on the inspection, dealers will replace the front driver air bag inflator with an alternate one, as necessary. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began August 28, 2020. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota's numbers for this recall is 20TB01 and 20TA01.
13.4% repairedof 138,842 vehicles
Manufacturer report to NHTSA · Source: US DOT recall completion data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026
Check your VIN on NHTSA
or ask a dealer to check campaign 20V033000
Listed for 1998 Toyota RAV4. Not checked against your VIN.
TOYOTA/PARKING LOCK ROD
Power train · automatic transmission · park/neutral start interlock switch
Official NHTSA text
- Summary
- VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY ELECTRIC VEHICLES. IF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE REPEATEDLY PARKED BY PLACING THE SHIFT LEVER INTO THE "P" POSITION WITHOUT APPLYING THE PARKING BRAKE, THE PARKING LOCK ROD, A COMPONENT OF THE TRANSMISSION PARKING LOCK SYSTEM, COULD BREAK.
- Consequence
- THIS CONDITION CAN RENDER THE SYSTEM INOPERATIVE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
- Remedy
- DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE PARKING LOCK ROD.
Repair progress not yet reported756 vehicles potentially affected
Manufacturer report to NHTSA · Source: US DOT recall completion data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026
Check your VIN on NHTSA
or ask a dealer to check campaign 00V211000
Listed for 1998 Toyota RAV4. Not checked against your VIN.
TOYOTA/FRONT DISC BRAKE ROTOR
Service brakes, air · disc · rotor
Official NHTSA text
- Summary
- VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY ELECTRIC VEHICLES. THE FRONT DISC BRAKE ROTOR, WHEN EQUIPPED WITH STEEL WHEELS, CAN DEVELOP STRESS FRACTURES IF THE LUG NUTS ARE TIGHTENED WITH EXCESSIVE TORQUE.
- Consequence
- THE DISC ROTOR COULD BREAK (WHERE IT MOUNTS TO THE WHEEL), RESULTING IN A LOSS OF BRAKING ACTION ON THAT WHEEL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
- Remedy
- DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DISC BRAKE ROTORS. IF THE VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH STEEL WHEELS, TOYOTA WILL REPLACE THE FRONT DISC BRAKE ROTORS AND STEEL WHEELS WITH NEW DISC BRAKE ROTORS AND NEW ALUMINUM WHEELS. IN ADDITION A CAUTION LABEL THAT READS, "USE NEW GENUINE TOYOTA ALUMINUM WHEELS." WILL BE AFFIXED. VEHICLES ALREADY EQUIPPED WITH ALUMINUM WHEELS WILL ONLY REQUIRE CAUTION LABEL INSTALLATION.
Repair progress not yet reported780 vehicles potentially affected
Manufacturer report to NHTSA · Source: US DOT recall completion data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026
Check your VIN on NHTSA
or ask a dealer to check campaign 00V212000
Listed for 1998 Toyota RAV4. Not checked against your VIN.
SOUTHEAST TOYOTA/AUDIOVOX/THEFT DETERRENT SYSTEM
Electrical system · ignition · anti-theft · control module
Official NHTSA text
- Summary
- VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, MINI VANS AND PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A THEFT DETERRENT SYSTEMS (TDS) SUPPLIED BY AUDIOVOX CORPORATION AND DISTRIBUTED BY SOUTHEAST TOYOTA DISTRIBUTORS, INC. IN THE STATES OF ALABAMA, FLORIDA, GEORGIA, NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA. THE ALARM WIRING HARNESS PLUGS INTO THE VEHICLE'S IGNITION SWITCH AND THE VEHICLE'S IGNITION SWITCH WIRING HARNESS PLUGS INTO THE ALARM HARNESS TO COMPLETE THE CIRCUIT. A PERCENTAGE OF THE FEMALE TERMINALS USED IN THE ALARM CONNECTOR WERE FOUND TO BE DEFECTIVE, CAUSING AN 'OPEN CIRCUIT' CONDITION WHEN MATED TO THE MALE IGNITION SWITCH TERMINALS.
- Consequence
- THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE INTERMITTENT PERFORMANCE OF THE VEHICLE'S ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS SUCH AS THE DASH WARNING LIGHTS AND/OR HVAC FAN SPEED CONTROLS. ALSO, THE VEHICLE MAY NOT RUN SMOOTHLY AND COULD STALL.
- Remedy
- DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE DATE CODE LABEL ON THE SECURITY SYSTEM HARNESS AND ANY DISPLAYING THE MANUFACTURING/FINAL DATE CODE WILL BE REPLACED WITH NEWLY PRODUCED HARNESSES. THE DATE CODES ARE: RAV4 - 6/24/98, 6/25/98, 6/26/98; SIENNA - 6/25/98, 6/26/98; AND AVALON - 6/30/98, 7/1/98, 8/31/98, 9/1/98, 9/2/98, AND 9/3/98.
Repair progress not yet reported1,960 vehicles potentially affected
Manufacturer report to NHTSA · Source: US DOT recall completion data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026
Check your VIN on NHTSA
or ask a dealer to check campaign 98V278000
PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.
Owner complaints (77)
77 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The service brakes is mentioned most often.
19involved a crash
0involved a fire
12injuries reported
0deaths reported
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 77 |
|---|---|---|
| Service brakes | 15 | 19.5% |
| Air bags | 13 | 16.9% |
| Vehicle speed control | 12 | 15.6% |
| Power train | 10 | 13% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 5 | 6.5% |
| Seat belts | 4 | 5.2% |
| Electrical system | 3 | 3.9% |
| Fuel system | 3 | 3.9% |
| Structure | 3 | 3.9% |
| Suspension | 3 | 3.9% |
How 1998 compares with other RAV4 years
Best and worst RAV4 years →19944
19951
199647
199754
199877
199962
200030
2001309
2002527
2003315
| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 | 4 | 0 |
| 1995 | 1 | 0 |
| 1996 | 47 | 0 |
| 1997 | 54 | 0 |
| 1998 | 77 | 4 |
| 1999 | 62 | 4 |
| 2000 | 30 | 3 |
| 2001 | 309 | 0 |
| 2002 | 527 | 0 |
| 2003 | 315 | 0 |
This year (1998)Other yearsStill collecting reports
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Fuel economy: up to 23 mpg combined
23
mpg combined
21
city
26
highway
- EPA annual fuel cost
- $2,900
- CO₂ tailpipe
- 386 g/mi
- EPA class
- Special Purpose Vehicle
What it costs you to run
$2,840per year
$237per month
652gallons a year
Miles ÷ 23 mpg × $4.354 (EIA US average regular, week of Oct 5, 2026, all taxes included). Source: EPA · EIA.
EPA label estimates from lab tests; your mileage will vary.
Specs by configuration
| Engine · transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | EPA $/yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 L 4-cyl · 4-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 21 / 26 / 23 | $2,900 | 386 |
| 2 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual | Front-Wheel Drive | 21 / 27 / 23 | $2,900 | 386 |
| 2 L 4-cyl · 4-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 21 / 26 / 23 | $2,900 | 386 |
| 2 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual | Front-Wheel Drive | 21 / 27 / 23 | $2,900 | 386 |
| 2 L 4-cyl · 4-speed automatic | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 20 / 24 / 22 | $3,050 | 404 |
| 2 L 4-cyl · 4-speed automatic | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 19 / 24 / 21 | $3,200 | 423 |
| 2 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 20 / 24 / 21 | $3,200 | 423 |
| 2 L 4-cyl · 5-speed manual | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 20 / 24 / 21 | $3,200 | 423 |
Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.
Looking at a 1998 RAV4 for sale?
Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.
Where to next
1998 Toyota RAV4 FAQ
How many recalls does the 1998 Toyota RAV4 have?
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns: 20V033000 (air bag), 00V211000 (power train), 00V212000 (brake), 98V278000 (electrical). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 1998 Toyota RAV4 problems?
Owners filed 77 complaints with NHTSA. Service brakes (15), Air bags (13), Vehicle speed control (12) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
What mpg does the 1998 Toyota RAV4 get?
EPA rates the 2 L 4-cyl · 4-speed automatic version at 21 city, 26 highway and 23 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.
How does the 1998 RAV4 compare with other years?
Among the 1994–2003 Toyota RAV4 model years at least five years old, the 1995 drew the fewest complaints (1) and the 2002 the most (527). The 1998 drew 77. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.
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